The Golden Gate Bridge District Board of Directors voted unanimously this morning to close northbound lanes of traffic during the San Francisco Marathon. Northbound traffic lanes will be closed from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 23rd, as 15,000 runners are crossing the Bridge roadway. Southbound lanes will continue to flow as usual and Bridge sidewalks will remain open to bicyclists and pedestrians. Runners will be protected from southbound vehicles by the steel and concrete moveable median barrier.

Golden Gate Transit vehicles will be escorted northbound across the Bridge, to permit public transit access. Emergency vehicles will also be escorted northbound, as needed. Patrol cars will also travel alongside the runners. Private vehicles, shuttles, and tour buses will not be permitted to cross northbound.

Historically, about 4,500 northbound vehicles cross the Golden Gate Bridge from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. The District asks for your help in alerting drivers to plan for an alternate path of travel across the Bay Bridge and the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. The delay is likely to take an hour of extra travel time.

The unprecedented decision to close the northbound lanes of the Golden Gate Bridge during the Marathon was made with consideration of recent tragic events around the world, in which people have intentionally driven into pedestrians. The District's Board of Directors voted to enhance safety measures for the runners in the San Francisco Marathon, while also providing public access across the Bridge through Golden Gate Transit.

As the San Francisco Marathon is one month away, the Board feels it is too late to simply cancel the event. This is a one-time decision to close the Bridge northbound for this specific event. The Board will consider the broader policy issue of closing the roadway for events later this year.